In today’s Bulldog wrapup of technology and science news:

  • Cryptolina returns to N.C.
  • Game of Thrones is hacked
  • Apple buys 3D tech to improve iPhone photos
  • Airlines face increasing threats from hackers
  • Olive Garden is adding tablets at tables

The details:

  • Cryptolina set for Charlotte

On Monday, Cryptolina founders Dan Spuller and Faruk Oktecin announced plans to host their 2015 bitcoin event August 14-15 in Charlotte, the second largest financial center in the United States, according to ExitEvent.

There’s also bitcoin news in the Triangle.

The event’s foundersl begin a series of workshops and events in the Triangle. The first of those is coming in May to The Frontier at Research Triangle Park and features Duke Professor and cryptocurrency expert Campbell Harveyand Todd Erickson, an Orange County banker on the board of the Bitcoin Foundation

Read more at: http://exitevent.com/article/cryptolina-returns-an-nc-bitcoin-update-150413

  • Game of Thrones’ hit by piracy from Twitter app users

HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is popular with both pirates and viewers. After its fifth season began Sunday, users of a Twitter-owned live-streaming app shared the fantasy drama.

HBO said Tuesday it sent “take down notices” to Periscope, the app that allows video streaming from users’ phones to their Twitter followers.

Twitter, which recently acquired Periscope, said the app complies with U.S. copyright law and responds to valid take-down requests.

On Monday, HBO said four unaired “Game of Thrones” episodes that were leaked online had come from within a group authorized to receive preview DVDs.

The unrelated incidents don’t appear to have hurt the show’s ratings. HBO hasn’t released figures, but reports say nearly 8 million viewers tuned in to the premiere, the series’ best start yet.

  • Apple’s 3D photo buy

Your iPhone photos in the future will feature 3D technology after Apple’s latest buy.

Reports Engadget:

“Apple has snapped upLinX, a camera technology company that specializes in depth-sensing cameras that can create 3D image maps — think Intel’s RealSense, or the Duo Camera in the HTC One M8. While Apple isn’t commenting on its future plans for the company, LinX’s hardware allows for post-capture refocusing, DSLR-like soft backgrounds and better low-light photography.”

Read more at: http://www.engadget.com

  • Investigators warn airplane computers could be hacked

A government watchdog says the same Internet access now available on most commercial flights also makes it possible for hackers to bring down a plane.

The finding by the Government Accountability Office presents a chilling new scenario for passengers. The report doesn’t suggest it would be easy to do, or very likely. But it points out that as airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration attempt to modernize planes with Internet-based technology, attackers have a new vulnerability they could exploit.

A worst-case scenario is that a terrorist with a laptop would sit among the passengers and take control of the airplane using its passenger Wi-Fi. The report comes after a similar warning was issued in March about the FAA’s air traffic control system.

  • Tablet for 2 waiting at an Olive Garden near you soon

Olive Garden has a tablet for two waiting for you.

The Italian restaurant chain said Tuesday that it is installing Ziosk computer tablets at all of its U.S. locations so customers can order and pay by touch screen.

Olive Garden, owned by Florida’s Darden Restaurants Inc., started using Ziosk tablets in some of its restaurants last year. The chain said Tuesday that locations using the devices have experienced faster dining times and increased tip percentages for wait staff. It will start rolling them out at additional restaurants next month and expects the 7-inch devices to be in all of its more than 800 U.S. restaurants before year’s end.

“We’ve been focused on improving the dining experience at every touch point, and we’re excited to give our guests the ability to customize their visit by leveraging the technology of Ziosk’s tabletop tablets,” Dave George, Olive Garden president, said in a statement.

Tablets have made appearances in airports, where travelers can have food delivered to where they sit, but are still limited in the traditional restaurant scene. Ziosk tablets are in use at Chili’s restaurants and are in the process of launching nationwide at Red Robin.